PARKER: At shutdown's end, high praise for women

4:26 PM,
Oct. 24, 2013

Written by

Kathleen Parker

WASHINGTON - Most Americans of a certain age grew up hearing the adage: "Behind every great man is a great woman," or some variation thereof.

The meaning is clear, though its origin less so. Whether the expression evolved from the women's movement or was uttered by a wise man is less important than its truth. Today, as women excel in education and assume positions of power, we might flip the expression - but not too hastily. For even now, it is hard not to notice that the Senate solution to the government shutdown is credited primarily to men, behind whom were a handful of women who got the ball ...